Classics 2008-2009
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Overview
THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Major
Classics encompasses the study of Greek, Latin, Greek history, Roman history, ancient literature in translation, archaeology, ancient law, ancient religion, mythology and more. Many students who do not major in Classics, enroll in our language courses or courses in English translation, depending on their general education needs or interests. Those who major in Classics may choose from three tracks: Greek, Latin, or Classics (a combination of courses from all areas). A full major requires twelve courses, an interdepartmental major with another program requires eight courses.
Minor
Students may minor in the languages, in courses in translation, or in some combination of the two. Bottom line: one needs six courses for the minor.
General Education
Classics is actively committed to the General Education curriculum. Courses in Greek and Latin satisfy linguistic and cultural competency requirements. Other courses in translation and history satisfy distribution requirements in Humanities. Many courses additionally satisfy cluster requirements. Whatever the course in Classics, we contribute to a better understanding of our own language, culture and institutions.
Term Abroad
Students can spend a fall term in Athens, where they choose from a variety of courses in archaeology, ancient literature, and ancient and modern Greek history and civilization.
Many of our students also choose to participate in other Euopean countries, especially the Florence program in Italy, which offers great opportunities to work with classically-inspired Renaissance art.
Placement
Students who have studied Greek or Latin in high school are encouraged to speak to a department member for advice about placement. The general rule is that 100 level courses are for beginners. Those who have had two or more years of language study in high school are encouraged to consider courses in ancient authors (200-300 level). All fall term courses in authors (no matter what the level) include grammar review.
Undergraduate Research
With over 30 majors, Classics sponsors many Sophomore Research Projects as well as senior theses. Recent studies have included wine in the Latin elegy, impiety in Latin epic, sacrifice in Greek epic, comparative work in Roman and American politics, and investigation of precursors to modern calculus in ancient Greek mathematics. Our interests are wide-ranging!
THE FACULTY
Hans-Friedrich Mueller
William D. Williams Professor of Classics
Ph.D., University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Roman history, law, and religion
Alex Gottesman
Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Ancient rhetoric and law
Rebecca F. Kennedy
Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Greek tragedy, Athenian democracy
Stacie Raucci
Assistant Professor of Classics
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Latin poetry, gender in antiquity
Jeannette Sargent
Adjunct Instructor of Classics
Ph.D., Bryn Mawr
Latin poetry, ancient drama
Mark Toher
Frank Bailey Professor of Classics
Ph.D., Brown University
Ancient history, Greek and Latin historiography
Tarik Wareh
Assistant Professor of Classics
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Greek literature and ancient philosophy
The faculty are actively engaged in research: Professor Mueller is the author of Roman Religion in Valerius Maximus and of articles in the area of Roman history; Professor Raucci is writing a book on vision in the poetry of Propertius; Professor Toher has edited books and published articles on Greek and Roman history and historiography; Professor Wareh is writing a book on philosophical politics in Plato and Socrates; Professor Kennedy is completing a book on Athenian tragedy and democracy; and Professor Gottesman has recently published articles on Homer and Stesichorus.